Impulse generator



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/NVENTOR Y O. R. M/L L ER ATAToRA/Er O. R. MILLER IMPULSE, GENERATOR Filed Nov. 5, 1942 Jan. 21, 1947.

7) Sheets-Sheet 2 GAS FILLED LOI'l FREQ- DET RAD/0 REC /NVENTOR 0.' R. M/L L ER By TTORNEV Jan., 2L 1947. o, R, WLLER 2,414,479

IMPULSE GENERATOR A TTORNEV v Jan. 2, 1947. o. R. MILLER IMPULSE GENERATOR 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov.

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/NVENTOR v0. R. M/L L E R ATTORNEY Jan. 2l, 1947. v o, R, M|LLER 2,414,479

IMPULsE GENERATOR Filed Nov. 5 1942 7 Sheets-sheet 5 A 0S CIL LA TOR /NVENTOR O. R. M/L ER A7' TOR/VE V Jan. 2l, 1947.

O. R. MILLER IMPULSEv GENERATOR Filed Nov. 5, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 lllllHll QRM/LLER BV ATToR/Ey Jan. 2l, 1947. o. R. MILLER IMPULSE GENERATR Filed Nov. 5, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 A T TORNEV Patented `ian. 21, 1947 IMPULSE GENERATOR Ohmcr R. Miller, Morristown, N. J., assigner to Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 5, 1942, Serial No. 464,665

(Cl. Z50-27) 7 Claims.

This invention relates to signaling and particularly to the generation of electric signals.

The object of the invention is to translate alternating current Waves into a series of sharply defined unidirectional impulses in which but a single impulse per cycle is generated, Such impulses are useful in operating cycle counters or other circuit arrangements responsive to a train of regularly recurring impulses particularly where the periodicity thereof or the frequency of the original alternating current is high.

This object is attained by means of an impulse generator in which-the voltage Wave of a supply source is used to charge a condenser on the rising positive half wave thereof. Such condenser is connected to a gas discharge tube having a known characteristic relation for discharge between the positive potential applied to the anode thereof and anegative potential applied to the cathode thereof. After the condenser is charged and a certain positive potential is established on the anodeV of the gas discharge tube, the falling positive half Wave of the original alternating current potential affects the cathode of such gas discharge tube changing the negative potential thereon until a point is reached defined by the characteristic of the tube where discharge will occur, whereupon the said condenser is discharged through such tube. The primary Winding of a transformer is included in this discharge path so that a unidirectional pulse is delivered by the secondary thereof.

Since the characteristic of the gas discharge tube is known the point of discharge may be accurately controlled. Thus by limiting or controlling the potential to which the condenser is charged the discharge of the tube and the condenser may be made to occur exactly as the original alternating current potential Wave passes through Zero from its positive half Wave to its negative half wave. Knowing exactly the negative potential Which Will be reached on the cathode of the tube as the alternating current wave passes through zero, the said condenser may be arranged to be charged up to a point corresponding to such negative potential so that after the condenser isl charged and then the negative potential of the anode moves toward the critical point, discharge will occur precisely as desired.

Therefore, another tube is employed which will limit the rise of potential to a particular and predetermined value, corresponding on the characteristic curve of the gastube to the negative potential which will be reached as the alternating current wavev passes through zero,

A feature of the invention is a circuit arrangement to whose input an alternating current source may be connected and which will deliver at its output a train of sharply defined unidirectional pulses, one for each cycle of said input current.

Another feature of the invention is a condenser and gas discharge tube arranged in a circuit whereby the condenser may be charged to establish a certain positive potential on the anode of said tube, and the negative potential on the cathode of said tube may then be changed until the tube ignites and the condenser is discharged therethrough. Means is provided to translate the discharge of the condenser into a unidirectional pulse.

Still another feature of the invention is a means to limit the charging of said condenser to a point corresponding on the characteristic curve of the said gas discharge tube to the negative potential lreached as the original alternating curent wave passes through a given predetermined value.

Another featureis the use of a diode rectifier in the charging path of the said condenser which will not interfere with the charging of the condenser but Will prevent discharge thereof While the negative potential of the cathode of the tube is being adjusted.

Other features will appear hereinafter.

The drawings consist of seven sheets having eleven figures, as follows:

Fig. l is a schematic circuit diagram showing the relation of the various circuit units to explain the general method of operation;

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing how Figs, 3 to 7, inclusive, may be placed to make a complete detailed circuit diagram;

Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram of the impulse generator;

Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram of the time-delay circuit;

Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram of a pulse counter for producing the start and stop pulses for operating the gate circuit;

Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram of the gate circuit;

Fig. '7 is a diagram of the pulse counting and recording means, showing one unit thereof in full and indicating duplicate units schematically;

Fig. 8 is a nest of graphs useful in explaining the operation of the time-delay circuit of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a nest of graphs useful in explaining the operation of the impulse generator of Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is 'a characteristic curve of the gas tube 3 which produces the impulses in the impulse generator of Fig, 3; and

Fig. 11 is a nest of graphs useful in explaining the operation of the gate circuit of Fig. 6.

In Fig. 1 the invention is illustrated schematically. The working starts where 'an alternating current is fed into the impulse generator I. Asv

shown, this alternating current may be derived from a projectile equipped with a radio transmitter having a directional antenna in the fuse portion thereof. The radiations of such a transmitter are picked up by the radio receiver 2 in the form of oscillations periodically varying in amplitude as illustrated by the graph below the radio receiver 2. The variations in amplitude are caused by the rotation of the projectile in iiight due to the rifling of known pitch of the barrel from which it has been discharged. The frequency of such variations in amplitude bears a direct relation to the velocity of such projectile in flight. The output of the radio receiver 2 is passed through a low frequency detector 3 and produces therein an alternating current all in accordance with well-known means and methods.

Or the alternating current which is fed into the impulse generator I may be derived from any other source, such, for instance, as the source of alternating current 4 and applied to the impulse generator by any means, such as the key 5.

Now upon the application of an alternating current to the impulse generator l, a time-delay circuit 6 starts into operation and delays for a given interval of time the application of the output of the impulse generator to the impulse counter ThisA is to insure that the first impulses to be counted are of full strength.

The impulse generator I is a device which produces a single sharply defined impulse from each cycle of alternating current fed thereinto. Through novel means provided this single sharply deilned pulse may be made to occur at any particular point in the cycle over a given range as, for instance, just as the wave passes through zero from the positive half wave to the negative half wave.

The train of impulses now owing into the impulse counter 'I starts this device into operation with the result that two pulses are produced thereby, one constituting a start pulse at the beginning of a count and the other constituting a stop pulse at the end of an operation during which a predetermined number of pulses are counted. Thus an interval of time A is measured between the start and stop impulses which is the time taken for a given number of rotations of the projectile or a given number of cycles of the a1- ternating current from the source 4.

As will appear hereinafter, and for certain reasons having to do with the question of eXtreme accuracy, several pulses incoming to the impulse counter l at the beginning of the operation are absorbed and not counted.

The start and stop pulses produced by the impulse counter 'l are employed to operate the gate circuit 8. This is a device effectively interposed between a precision oscillator 9 and a, recording Y circuit I0. The recording circuit I 0 will accurately count the cycles of alternating current flowing through the gate circuit 8 during the interval A, the gate being opened by the said start impulse and being closed by the said stop impulse. Since the precision oscillator 9 may produce la current of precisely regulated frequency and of a comparatively high frequency, the interval of time A may be measured with extreme 4 accuracy. Inv general, the recording circuit I 0 is of the same nature as the impulse counter 1, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

The impulse counting circuit Ii! operates an indicating circuit I I which serves to give some kind of an indication revealing the number of impulses counted during the time A while the gate 8 was open. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, this indicator consists of means to display a number, such as 37777. The frequency of the source 9 being known, the number 37777 is then a direct measure of the ltimel interval A and therefore in direct proportion to the velocity of the projectile or to the frequency of the source 4.

Considering now the detailed circuit drawings, several general observations may be made. Throughout the drawings wherever ionic tubes are shown the filaments for heating such tubes are indicated but the battery supply is not shown since the manner of making such connections is well known and the addition of such circuits would unnecessarily complicate the drawings. In various gures there are shown reset keys whose function it is to return the various circuits to their normal conditions. It will be understood that these may be in the form of separate keys as shown and described, or they may all be incorporated in a single device so that at one stroke the various circuits may be properly controlled.

As explained hereinbefore, an alternating current is fed into the impulse generator from one or another source, such as the radio receiver 2 and low frequency detector 3, or the source 4 through some connecting agency, such as the key 5. In the impulse generator the Valternating current flows in over conductor I2, through condenser I3 and thence through the primary winding of a transformer I4 to ground, it being assumed that a ground connection is provided at the said source of current. The secondary winding of transformer IiiV thus becomes a source of alternating current to affect the triode i5.

The cathode grid circuit of this tube may be traced from the cathode through the resistance I6, the secondary winding of the transformer I4, resistance I7 to the grid of tube I5. A condenser IB is in parallel with both the resistance I6 and a source of negative biasing battery comprising the resistance I9 and the well-known network of reotiiiers 20, 2|, 22 and 23, energized by a source of alternating current 2li and an interposed transformer 25. The potential supplied by this network is sufcient to produce a given anode-cathode current flow in the tube I5 between the battery connected to the anode thereof and the resistances 26 and 2l to ground. Under these conditions a given potential thus stands on the cathode of tube I5, this being a point on the potentiometer consisting of the internal resistance of the tube and the two resistances 26 and 21.

Now as an alternating current Wave in the secondary winding of transformer I li rises from a zero value to an increasing positive potential, the grid of the tube becomes less negative and, as a consequence, the anode-cathode current increases. Therefore, the potential of the cathode with respect to ground increases, so that the potential on the start conductor 28 increases. This start conductor leads into the time-delay circuit' so that when the increase of potential thereon is great enough the time-delay circuit will be tripped oif and in a given time will raise the potential on the control lead 29 sui'liciently to allow the gas tube 39 to function.

Normally the cathode of the tube I is connected in a circuit with the right-hand pair of elements of the double diode tube 3l, resistance 32, condenser 33, resistance 21 to ground, whereby the condenser 33 may be charged as the potential of the cathode of tube I5 rises. Normally, also, the potential standing on the control conductor 29 and communicated through the lefthand pair of elements of the double diode 3l directly to the condenser 33 prevents the aforementioned charging circuit from becoming effective. In other words, the control conductor normally holds the voltage on the condenser 33 down so that the impulse generator cannot function.

If the alternating current fed into the input conductor i2 is derived from the radio receiver 2 the signals may at rst be weak but as they grow in strength a point will be reached where the rise of potential on the cathode of tube I5 and on start conductor 28 is sufcient to trip oi the time-.delay circuit. Thereafter, and after a predetermined time the potential on the control conductor 29 will be raised to enable the impulse generator to operate, as will be described hereinafter.

The operation of the time-delay circuit of Fig. 4 will be explained with the help of a nest of graphs shown in Fig. 8. Two vertical lines are shown, one marked start and the other marked control The distance between these lines is a measure of the time interval desired.

The start conductor 28 is connected through a resistance 34 to an intermediate point on a potentiometer comprising resistances 35, 35 and 3? connected between positive battery negative battery 39. As the potential on the conductor 28 rises according to the graph 49, it reaches a point where the gas tube 4I triggers off and this is the start of the operation. Tube 4I becomes conducting and the anode-cathode current flow therethrough changes the potential at the potentiometer point between resistances 42 and 43, as indicated by the graph 45, from a comparatively high positive potential to a comparatively low positive potential. At the same time the potential on the grid of tube l5 falls, as indicated by graph 41, from a positive value to a negative value below the cut-off bias (indicated by the dotted line 48) of the triode 46 so that this tube now becomes non-conducting. This changes the potential of the potentiometer point between the resistances 49 and 59, as indicated by graph 52, from a comparatively low positive value to a comparatively high positive value, Thereupon the potentiometer point between resistances 59 and 5I rises, as indicated by graph 53, from a negative value through the trigger potential 0f gas tube 54 (indicated by the dotted line 55) to a positive value. Thereupon the condenser |41 begins a charge through resistance 56 in accordance with graph 51, and when the trigger potential 55 of the tube 54 is reached the control conductor 29 is affected, as follows: When tube 54 becomes conducting the potentiometer point between the resistances 53 and 59 changes its potential, as indicated by graph 6l, from a comparatively high positive value to a comparatively low positive value. Thereupon the potentiometer point between resistances59 and 60 drops, according to graph 52. from a positive value through the cut-off bias vgrid potential of tube 63 (indicated by the dotted line 64) to a negative value and tube E3 becomes non-conducting. This in turn changes the potential-on the potentiometer pointV between resistanoes 55 and 53, as indicated by graph B9, from a comparatively low positive value to a comparatively high positive value. This last potential change is communicated over control conductor 29 to enable the impulse generator.

The tubes of Fig. 4 will now remain in the condition just described, regardless of the variation in potential` on the start conductor 28, until the reset' keys 59 and 19 are operated to render tubes 4I and 54 again non-conducting.

A pair of cold gas signal tubes 1l and 'i2 is provided for visually indicating the operation of this time-delay circuit. Tube 1l whose control anode (indicated by the arrowhead) is normally at a comparatively high positive potential is therefore normally glowing. When this potential is dropped, in accordance with graph 45, this tube becomes dark as an indication that the timing operation has started. Tube 12 whose control anode is normally at a comparatively low positive potential is normally dark. When this potential is raised, in accordance with graph 58, to a comparatively high positive potential, this tube 12 glows. The period of time during which both signals are simultaneously dark is a measure of the desired time interval. This may be adjusted, as desired, by changing the value of the resistance 56 and the capacity of the condenser |41.

In this manner, then, the signals being fed into the impulse generator over conductor I2 grow in strength, and the impulse generator is enabled a predetermined time after such signals have reached a strength su'iiicient to trigger oi the tube 4 l.

With the rise of potential on control conductor 29 the impulse generator will function. This will be explained with the help of Figs. 9 and l0.

vTube 30 is a gas tube, one of whose characteristics is depicted in Fig. 10. For each given positive potential value on the anode thereof there is a corresponding given negative value on the cathode at which the tube will re or trigger off. This is shown by the curve 13 plotted between positive anode potentials and negative cathode potentials. In accordance with this invention a positive anode potential is rst established and thereafter the negative potential is increased (in a positive direction) until the corresponding point is reached, whereupon the tube fires.

In Fig. 9 the graph 14 represents a cycle of a1- ternating current as delivered by the secondary of transformer I4. As the positive half wave rises in value, the negative potential on the grid of tube I5 recedes until the tube becomes saturated and hence the change of potential on the cathode thereof rises to a particular value and then halts, as indicated by the graph 15. This is a measure of the potential being applied through the righthand elements of the double diode 3l to the condenser 33. Thus the charge on condenser 33 rises, in accordance with graph 16, during the rising part of the positive half wave of alternating current potential 14. However, due to the unidirectional characteristics of the diode 3| the positive charge C attained on the condenser 33 is maintained as the falling part of the positive half Wave is reached. But at this time the cathode potential of tube 30 measured at the potentiometer point between resistances 2B and 21 begins to fall, in accordance with graph 11, until the negative value B is reached. Since the positive potential C of condenser 331s now placed through the primary winding of transformer 18 on to the anode of tube 30, this tube will lire and the condenser 33 will discharge through the anode-cathode circuit of tube 30 and the primary of transformer 18.

vIn the above description the negative value B of the cathode of tube 30 is described. Actually the cathode of tube 30 is never at a value negative with respect to ground but if the actual potential of this cathode at the static condition of the circuit when the incoming alternating current wave is at zero is taken as a reference point, then the cathode of tube 30 moves in a negative direction so that when the potential of the cathode of l this tube is spoken of as becoming negative it will be understood that it is increasing in a negative sense. Thus as the current in resistance 2l decreases the potential of the cathode of tube 30 increases in a negative sense.

It is to be noted that the value of the negative bias of tube |5 may be regulated so that the value of the positive potential attained on the anode of tube 38 may be adjusted as desired. This may particularly be adjusted so that this positive potential attained or established on condenser 33 may just match the negative potential attained on the cathode of tube 30 as the alternating current wave 'I4 passes through zero from the positive half wave to the negative half wave. Thus the discharge of the condenser 33 may be made to occur at any desired point.

The discharge of condenser 33 through the primary of the transformer 18 produces a single sharply dened pulse shown by graph 19, which may be inverted by the transformer I8 to a negative pulse. This is transmitted over the signaling conductor to the impulse counter of Fig. 5.

Thus alternating current incoming over conductor I2 is transformed into a train of sharply dened unidirectional pulses, one for each complete cycle of alternating current. These pulses are then applied to the output circuit of the impulse generator which is connected to the input circuit of the impulse counter.

The pulses coming in over the input conductor pass through condenser 88 and appear as Isharply deiined negative pulses leading to the suppressor grids of two tubes 8| and 82.

The tubes 8| and 82 form a counting pair, one of which is always energized and in a conducting state. The principle of operation is fundamentally the same as that of the well-known Eccles and Jordan circuit, disclosed in British Patent 148,582. These tubes are, however, pentodes with the anode of each connected to the screen grid of the other. When the negative impulse is applied to the suppressor grid of both, then both are rendered non-conducting. When the said negative impulse has ceased the combination of the two tubes is left in an extremely unstable state so that the slightest influence will determine which of the two is to become conducting to the exclusion of the other. This extremely slight inuence is supplied by a condenser 83 connected between the cathodes of the two tubes which is charged in one direction while tube 8| is active and in the other direction while tube 82 is active. When the negative impulse is applied to the two suppressor grids, condenser 83 becomes discharged but there is left a slight residual charge, the magnitude of which depends on the effective length of thev said negative pulse. At the termination of this negative pulse the said slight residual charge on condenser 83 is sufficient to determine which of the two tubes will then become active. If tube 8| has been active before the negative pulse, then tube 82 will become active thereafter. Thus one negative pulse will render tube 8| inactive and tube 82 active and a second pulse will reverse this condition and render tube 82 inactive and tube 8| active.

'Throughout the circuits to be described a large number of these counting pairs are employed, all of which operate in the same manner. The detailed description of the operation of a single pair will therefore be sufficient. It will be found that the upper tube of each pair is normally active; that is, it i-s in a conductingstate and has a low potential on its anode. Conversely, the lower tube of the pair is normally inactive; that is, it is in a non-conducting state and has a high potential on its anode.

It will be noted that the anode of each tube is in a potentiometer circuit. For tube 8| this potentiometer circuit may be traced from a high positive battery through resistance |58 and resistance |5| to ground. The anode of the tube 8i is connected to the potentiometer point between resistances |58 and |5|. Also a circuit constituting a potentiometer may be traced from resistance |50, the anode-cathode path within the tube, resistance` |52 and resistance |53 to ground. The resistances of the tube, |52 and |53, are thus in parallel with resistance |5I. Now when the tube is non-conducting or inactive, there being little if any current flow in this potentiometer circuit, the potential of the anode (and the screen grid of the companion tube) is at a comparatively high positive value. Thus the tube 82 is enabled by a comparatively high positive screen grid potential. However, when a negative potential is applied to both suppressor grids both tubes become non-conducting and hence a comparatively high positive potential is applied to the screen grid of each. Hence, when the negative potential is removed from the suppressor grids both tubes are in a condition to become active or conducting. The choice of which one prevails rests with the condenser 83 as hereinbefore pointed out.`

When tube 8| is in an active or conducting state the current ow in its anode-cathode circuit aifects the potentiometer point between the resistances |58 and l5! so that the potential thereof is at a comparatively low positive value. Hence the screen grid of the companion tube is at a comparatively low positive value and this tube is held in a non-conducting or inactive state.

The potentiometer circuit for tube 8| has been described. Tube 82 has a similar potentiometer circuit consisting of the resistances |54, |55, |56 and |53.

It should be noted that as a tube goes from a non-conducting to a conducting state its potentiometer point suddenly drops from a comparatively high to a comparatively low positive value. Hence as tube 8| becomes active the potentiometer point between resistances |50 and |5| drops and condenser 84 translates this sudden drop in potential into a negative impulse to be applied to the suppressor grids of tubes 85 and 86.

Thus the pair of tubes 8| and 82 provides a means which sets up a stable condition which will remain fixed, but which instantly responds to a negative incoming pulse to reverse the previous condition of the two tubes. Also the tubes in their reversal will generate a like negative pulse when the reversal in condition is in a given direction so that for every two incoming negative pulses a single outgoing negative pulse is generated.

The impulse counter consists of a plurality of pairs arranged to count the impulses according to a binary geometric progression system. Thus, the first pulse renders tube 82 active.

The second pulse rendering tube 8| again active will also generate a negative pulse through condenser S4 to the pair of tubes 85 and 95 and will result in rendering tubes 92 and 85 inactive and tubes 9| and 96 active. The third pulse will render tube 8| inactive and tube 82 active.

It may be noted that if each of the lower tubes of all pairs is given a value of zero and the upper tubes given a value according to a geometrie progression as 1, 2, 4. 8. 16, 32. 64, 128, 256, etc., that the sum of the values of the inactive tubes will be a count of the number of pulses. Thus, at the beginning all the inactive tubes willV have a value of zero and the sum of such values will be Zero. After the iirst pulse, tube Si will be inactive and the sum now becomes .1.. After the second pulse tube 85 is inactive and tube 8| is active so that the sum becomes 2. After the third pulse tubes 8| and 85 are inactive so that the sum becomes 1-!2=3. With two pair of tubes three pulses may be counted as the next or fourth pulse will return both pair of tubes to normal while passing such fourth pulse on the next pair of tubes to be counted there. With eight stages two-hundred and nity-five pulses may be counted, all pairs being returned to normal on the two-hundred and nity-sixth pulse with such pulse being passed on to the following pair or stage.

Thus in the impulse counter of Fig. 5 eight stages 0f these counting pairs of tubes are provided. The first pulse renders tube 8| inactive; the second pulse renders tube 85 inactive and tube 86 active. As tube 8B passes from the inactive to the active stage a negative pulse is generated and passed over conductor 31 where it functions as a start signal to the gate circuit of Fig. 6. The two-hundred and nity-sixth pulse returns all the upper inactive tubes to normal and generates a negative pulse which now passes over conductor 89 where it functions as a stop signal to the gate circuit. Thus the dierence between two-hundred and fifty-six and two or two hundred and fifty-four pulses'is counted, the iirst two being effectively absorbed, The gate circuit thus opens a circuit for the flow of alternating current from a precision oscillator for the length of time of two-hundred and fifty-four pulse cycles from the impulse generator. The impulse counter may be arranged to count any other number which would be more suitable under the circumstances under which this apparatus may be used.

The purpose of absorbing one or more pulses at Vthe beginning of the train is to insure the measurement of a definite time interval and avoid error which might come from a false start if the first impulse transmitted from the impulse generator were not of full strength.

The reset key |48, when operated, will return the impulse counter to normal by rendering all the lower tubes of the various stages inactive.

'The action of the gate circuit, Fig. 6, will be explained with the help of a set of graphs, Fig. 11. Here anumber of tubes are employed, some of which are paired, as in the pulse counter. For instance, tubes 90 and 9| form one pair and tubes 92 and 9,3 form another pair. Tubes 90 and 92 are normally active and tubes 9|, 93 and 94 are normally inactive. The connections of the tubes are much as before except that the condenser between the cathodes of the tubes of a pair is not employed so that a negative pulse coming in over the start conductor 81 and passing through the condenser 89 will reverse the condition of thetubes 90 and 9|, rendering tube 90r inactive and the tube 9| active. A potentiometer is formed between the positive battery 95, resistance 96 and resistance 91 to ground, and the anode of tube 99 and the grid of tube 9| are connected to this potentiometer at a point between resistances 96 and 91. Due to the current iiow while tube 90 is active the potential of this point is held at a comparatively low positive value. When the negative start pulse cornes in over conductor 81 tothe suppressor grid of tube 90 this tube becomes non-conducting with the consequence that the potential of the anode in the said potentiometer circuit rises to a-comparatively high positive value, as indicated by graph 99 (Fig. 11). Since this comparatively high positive potential alsoappears on the grid of tube 9|, this latter tube now becomes conducting. Here again a potentiometer is formed of positive battery 95, resistance 99 and resistance |00 to ground. The potential on the potentiometer point between resistances 99 and |00 is normally a comparatively high positive potential but as tube 9| becomes conducting this drops to a comparatively low positive potential, as indicated by graph |0|. This being communicated to the grid of tube 90 holds this tube nonconducting after the termination of the negative start pulse.

As the potential-of the anode of tube 9| drops, the condenser |02 responds by discharging between resistances |03 and |00, forming a negative pulse, graph |04, applied tothe suppressor grid of tube 92. Tube 92, normally conducting,

now becomes non-conducting with the result that the potentiometer point between resistances |06 and |01 rises from a comparatively low positive value to a comparatively high positive value, as indicated by graph |08. This causes tube 93 to become conducting so that the potential on the potentiometer point between resistances |09 and ||0 now drops from a comparatively high positive value to a comparatively low positive value, as indicated by graph This drop of potential communicated to the grid of tube 92 holds this tube non-conducting after the termination of the negative impulse from condenser |02.

Another potentiometer is formed between positive battery 95, resistances |09, ||2 and ||3 to negative battery H4. The potential of the point between resistances H2 and ||3 in general follows the potential of the point between resistances |06 and |01, as indicated by graph H5, and hence as this point rises in potential the tube 94 is rendered active so that pulses from the precision oscillator connected to input lead |16 may be passed through the tube 94 to the output lead l|1 as a train of negative pulses, as indicated by the graph H8.

The output of the precision oscillator is practically a sine wave. It is, however, connected through a condenser ||9 and a resistance |20 to a potentiometer point between resistance |2| leading to ground and resistance |22 leading to negative battery, whereby the negative half waves from theprecision oscillator are accentuated and the positive half waves are suppressed.

Before the start pulse has rendered the tube 92 non-conducting the screen grid of tube 94 is held down to a comparatively low positive potential (graph I I so that the tube 94 is blocked. When upon the occurrence of the start pulse the po'- tential of this screengrid rises to a comparatively high positive potential this tube becomes unblocked and the distorted wave from the precision oscillator .passes to the output ||1 as a train of negative pulses. The conditions thus far described hold until -the stop pulse is received over conductor 88.

When the stop pulse is transmitted over conductor 88 it passes through condenser |23 and appears as a negative pulse on the suppressor grid of tube 93, whereupon the condition of the two tubes 92 and 93 will become reversed, 92 becoming conducting and 93 becoming non-conducting. It will be seen from graphs |98, |II, I|5 and I|8 that the flow of negative pulses over Ithe output circuit I 1 is thus abruptly terminated. Y The circuit 'will remain in the present condition, with tubes 9| and 92 active andtubes 99, 93 and 94 inactive until the circuit is returned to normal condition by the operation of the reset key |24, which, by temporarily placing negative potential on the control grids of tubes 9| and 93, insures that tubes 99 and 92 become active and tubes 9|, 93 and 94 become inactive.

As in the case of the time-delay circuit described hereinbefore, this circuit unit is provided with a pair of glow tubes to indicate the condition of the apparatus. Tube |25 is normally active, and becomes dark as soon as the start pulse is received and remains dark thereafter. Tube |26 is normally dark and remains dark until the stop pulse is received whereupon it glows. The interval during which both tubes are dark is therefore a measure of the time interval between the start and stop pulses.

The control electrode of tube |25, indicated by Ithe arrowhead, is connected to a potentiometer point leading through resistance 21 to ground. The potential of this point is controlled by tube 9| over resistance |28 and by tube 93 over ref sistance |29. When either of these tubes is active the tube'isheld inactive but when both these tubes 9| and 93 are inactive, as under normal conditions, then the potential of the point, be-

tween resistances 99 and |99 and the potential of l the point between resistances |99and II9are at a comparatively high positive value and tube |25, as a consequence, glows.

Likewise, tube |26 is under control of tubes 99 and V93 so that only after the gate circuit has completely functioned and tubes 99 and 93 are simultaneously inactive is tube |26 conditioned to glow. Thus tube |25 glowingl indicates that the gate circuit has not yet functioned and tube |26 glowing. indicates that the gate circuit has comv pletely functioned. Y

The train of negative pulses transmitted over conductor I |1 feeds into a chain oi pulse counters similar to those shown in Fig. 5. In order to count a number of pulses of the order of 16,090 it would be necessary to provide about fifteen pair of tubes. As pointed out hereinbefore, with fourteen pair of tubes and after a counting operation in which the upper or normally conducting tube of each pair has been rendered non-conducting, a number 11, 111, 111, 111, 111 in accordance with the simple binary geometric progression scheme of counting would be recorded. This number, translated into the commonly used decimal system, would mean that a, train of 12 16,383 pulses had been counted. However, since the iirst of these numbers is awkward to handle, the arrangement shown in Fig. 7 may be employed. Here a set of lifteen pair of tubes is employed, arranged in live sets of three pair each. Each such set of tubes represents the means for recording a single digit in a system using the digits 0 to 7, inclusive, so that 16,383 pulsesV counted would be recorded as the number 37,777.

As hereinbefore pointed out, if the three lower tubes |38, |39 and |49 are given the value zero each and the three upper tubes I 4| |42 and |43 are given the value l, 2 and 4, respectively, then the digit recorded on this unit will be equal to the sum of the values of the three tubes which are simultaneously inactive. A group of eight glow tubes |39 to |31, inclusive, is used to indicate'the number recorder en this unit having the Values 0 to 7, inclusive, respectively.Y Thus, if the three lower tubes |38, I 39 and |49 are all inactive, as in normal condition, the glow tube i 39 will be active and by glowing will indicate the digit zero. If, on the other hand, all three upper tubes |4I, |42 and |43 are inactive, then glow tube |31, by glowinggwill indicate that the digit 7 (equal -to the sum of 1-I-2-l-4) has been recorded. Y

VIt will be noted that each glow tube, such as the tube |39, is connected to a network having a resistance leading to one tube of each pair. Thus resistance |44 is connected to the anode of tube |38, resistance |45 is connected to the anode of tube |39 and resistance |46 is connected to the anode of tube |49. It is only when these three tubes |38, |38 and |49 are simultaneously inactive that the potential of the control electrode of glow tube |39 is sufficiently high to render the tube |39 active. From the above it will readily be seen that these tubes are connected in a network based on a permutation code whereby only one of the glow tubes |39 to |31 is rendered active at any one time.

The arrangement of the six tubes |38 to |43, inclusive, may be considered a recording and indicating means for the last digit in a system based o-n the use of digits 0 to 7, inclusive. Other digital recorders are indicated by the broken line rectangles to the right. All of the various pairs of tubes are arranged serially so that if theV upper tube of each pair were given a value according to the simple binary geometric progression l, 2. 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, 16384 and the upper tube of the first fourteen pairs were active, then the sum of such values would be the sum of the first fourteen members of the above progression, or 16383.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for translating incoming alternating current into an outgoing train of unidirectional sharply delned pulses at the rate of one pulse per cycle of alternating current, comprising .means responsive to rising strengthr of current for charging a condenser, means for limiting the strength of said rising value to a predetermined amount, a condenser, a gas discharge device controlled in part by said condenser, a network responsive to decreasing strength of current for further controlling said gas discharge device, and means responsive to the discharge of'said condenser through said gas discharge device for translating said condenser discharge into a unidirectional outgoing pulse.

2. A device for producing a train of unidirectional sharply dened pulses from an alternating current wave, comprising a condenser, means for charging said condenser up to a predetermined potential responsive tc the rising positive portion of alternating current wave, a gas discharge tube in the discharge path of said condenser, means responsive to the decreasing portion of the positive half Wave of said alternating current for igniting said gas discharge tube, and means also in the discharge path of said condenser for translating the discharge thereof into a unidirectional impulse.

3. A device for producing a train of unidirectional sharply defined pulses from an alternating current wave, comprising a condenser, means for charging said condenser up to a predetermined potential responsive to the rising positive portion of said alternating current wave, a gas discharge tube, said condenser being connected between the cathode and anode circuits of said tube, means responsive to the decreasing portion of the positive half wave of said alternating current for controlling the cathode circuit of said tube, and means in the anode circuit of said tube responsive to the discharge of said condenser for producing a unidirectional impulse.

4. A pulse generator for translating each cycle of an alternating current into a single sharply dened pulse comprising a gas discharge tube having a known characteristic curve of ignition points plotted between positive anode potentials and cathode potentials negative with respect to said anode potentials, means to raise the positive potential of the anode of said tube while maintaining the potential of the cathode thereof below the corresponding ignition point of said tube, means for then raising the potential of the cathode of said tube in a negative sense while maintaining the said established positive potential on the anode thereof until the ignition point of said tube is reached, and a transformer in the discharge path cf said tube for translating the discharge of said tube into a single unidirectional pulse.

5. A pulse generator for translating each cycle of an alternating current into a single sharply defined pulse comprising a gas discharge tube having a known characteristic curve of ignition points plotted between positive anode potentials and cathode potentials negative with respect to said anode potentials, means for converting the rising positive portion of a cycle of alternating current into a rising positive potential on the anode of said tube while maintaining the potential of the cathode thereof below the corresponding ignition point of said tube, means for thereafter maintaining the positive potential established on the said anode, means for converting the following falling positive portion of the said cycle of alternating current into a rising potential in anegative on the cathode of said tube, and means to 14 limit the said established positive potential on the said anode to a point corresponding on said characteristic curve to the potential on said cathode which will be reached as the said cycle of said alternating current passes through a particular value.

6. A pulse generator for translating each cycle of an alternating current into a single sharply defined pulse comprising a gas discharge tube having a known characteristic curve of ignition points plotted between positive anode potentials and cathode potentials negative with respect to said anode potentials, means responsive to the rising positive portion of a cycle of alternating current for establishing a predetermined positive potential on the anode of said tube, means for maintaining said established potential on the anode of said tube during the following falling positive portion of said cycle of alternating current, means responsive to the said falling positive portion of said cycle of alternating current for increasing the potential on the cathode of said tube in a negative sense until an ignition point on said characteristic curve is reached, and a transformer in the discharge path of said tube for translating the discharge of said tube into a single unidirectional impulse.

7. A pulse generator for translating each cycle or an alternating current into a single sharply defined pulse comprising a gas discharge tube having a known characteristic curve of ignition points plotted :between positive anode potentials and cathode potentials negative with respect to said anode potentials, an input circuit connected to a source oi' alternating current, a potential limiting tube connected to said input circuit, a diode rectifier tube, a condenser, said diode and said condenser being responsive to the rising positive portion of a cycle of alternating current to charge said condenser to a positive potential limited by Said potental limiting tube, said condenser applying a positive potential to the anode of said gas tube and said diode acting to maintain said established positive potential during the following falling positive portion of said cycle of alternating current, a circuit network responsive to said falling positive portion of said cycle of alternating current for increasing the potential on the cathode of said gas discharge tube in a negative sense, means for controlling said potential limiting tube to establish a positive potential on the anode of said gas tube which will correspond on said characteristic curve to the potential reached on the cathode of said gas tube at a desired point in the said cycle of alternating current, and an output circuit for converting the discharge of said condenser through said .gas tube upon the ignition thereof into a single sharply defined impulse.

OHMER R. MILLER. 

